International Series: Team Spain - Junior Hockey News

Barcelona, Spain - Usually known for their love of sports and entertainment centered on a bull, the Spaniards hope to improve on the past few decades of disappointment. And if using a live animal won't help with training, there is actually a practice technique hockey players have been using for years to help with their skills. It's called soccer and apparently the rest of the world is really big on it. However, for the past 28 years, Spain has slowly been kicking the ball away and grabbing a stick. Did I say slowly? I meant like glue dripping down the side of the Eiffel Tower slow. But progress is progress right? Here is a snapshot of the team the Federacin Espaola de Deportes de Hielo has been sending to the IIHF World Junior Ice Hockey Championships since 1984.

Team Spain:

IIHF Record: 45-62-6

Division: II

Group: A

2012 Final Results: Division II Group A Fourth Place with 2-3-0 record

Head Coach: Lars Lisspers (SWE)

One thing about Spain is that they don't waste their time competing if there isn't a point in being at the tournament. In the less than 30 years since they have sent a team, Spain has taken off four years to rebuild their program. Aside from jumping in and out of the WJHC early on, Spain has been a solid contender in the lower ranks since becoming consistent in attendance. Unfortunately for them though, they just can't seem to move up the rankings without any major restructuring.

In the most recent WJHC, team Spain started off with two impressive wins (albeit against the bottom two teams) but then failed to score more than five goals in their three remaining games. To make matters even worse, neither goaltender could stop a nose bleed. Ignacio Martinez and Bruno Gonzalez combined to allow 22 goals and finish with roughly an 88.34 SVS%. Now with Martinez gone due to age restrictions, Gonzalez is going to need to carry the entire load unless a young buck can take his place between the pipes. At this point though, it may just be worth it to put a 17 year old in there to get the reps and prepare for the future.

Offensively is where the Spaniards will need to start looking as they have Pablo Puyuelo will be returning and after the emergence of young defenseman Inigo Gainza they have two key players to build a program around. Puyuelo will only have one year of eligibility remaining but Gainza is only 17 years old and could prove to be a staple, especially if he can grow physiologically. The best thing Spain has going for them though is a strong farm system with junior clubs all over the country so their players have strong avenues to turn to; and with head coach Lars Lisspers returning, he may be able to bring some Nordic goaltending philosophies with him to the practice rink and improve their final line of defense if they hope to be promoted this year.

* Article disclaimer:
This site may contain advice,
opinions and statements from various authors and information providers.
Views expressed in this article reflect the personal
opinion of the author, Matt Prosser, and not necessarily the
views of JuniorHockey.com.
JuniorHockey.com does not represent or endorse the accuracy
or reliability of any advice, opinion, statement or other
info provided in the article, or from any other member of this site.